Cite as:
Geri G A, Chaudhry S, Pierce B J, 2002, "Visual cues to airspeed and altitude in simulated flight over textured terrain" Perception 31 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Visual cues to airspeed and altitude in simulated flight over textured terrain

G A Geri, S Chaudhry, B J Pierce

In the context of flight simulation, edge rate and optic flow are two of the major cues to airspeed and altitude. These variables can, however, be difficult to quantify in the case of flight over realistically textured terrain. We have measured perceived airspeed and altitude over textures of varying density, and have attempted to correlate those measures with quantifiable properties of the textures. Observers attempted to actively maintain either their initial airspeed over terrains whose texture density varied, or their initial altitude over terrain whose height varied. The input texture densities varied by a factor of more than 64 000 elements m^-2. As displayed, the spectral content of the textures approximated that of natural terrain. Flight was simulated with a high-performance PC-based image generator (MetaVR Inc.), and the terrains were displayed across three channels of a wide-field, CRT rear-projection display (180 deg horizontal × 63 deg vertical). The RMS error for altitude maintenance varied from about 2.0 m to 4.0 m from the lowest to the highest terrain density, and was significantly greater than that found for perceived airspeed. This finding is consistent with previous research that has shown altitude maintenance to be dependent on changes in the size of terrain texture elements as well as on edge rate and optic flow.[Supported by USAF F41624-97-D-5000.]

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